Number 1 eco-tourism travel Agent 2022
Game Lodge was the first of its kind in the Thornybush Nature Reserve, opening its doors back in 1961. As the original establishment, it put Thornybush on the map and established our reputation for world-class game-viewing.
Now, with a note of sophistication in the design and layout, our thatched main area overlooks a waterhole and riverbed frequently visited by elephants, buffalo and other large game. The classic lower deck flows between the open dining area and a beautiful bar.
Sunbirds, attracted to the many aloes which surround the main deck, are just some of the many small delights you can expect on your stay at Thornybush Game Lodge.
The warm-hearted staff, riverbed setting and legacy of excellence are standout features. Meals, when taken at the lodge, are Ottolenghi-style buffets prepared by Solly, the legendary master bush chef! Bush dinners are a firm favorite with our guests, where you get to enjoy a hearty meal, surrounded by lanterns, candles and the sound of the African wilderness.
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Private and stylishly decorated, the Luxury Suites are a joy to spend a night in and difficult to leave. The large windows above the bath and giant sliding doors to the deck offer incredible views of the riverbed and any animals that may be wallowing there. Each of the 18 Luxury Suites have an en-suite bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower and have been carefully designed and spaced to provide privacy. The elegant finishes and extremely comfortable beds complete the impressive rooms.
Each of the two Family Suites are larger than the Luxury Suites, with a lounge area and day beds to accommodate children. As with the Luxury Suites, they have an elegant design that offers the perfect oasis of calm and rest after a game drive. These suites have a large private deck with its own plunge pool.
All meals
All local drinks (soft drinks, house wine, selection of local beers, local spirits)
Morning / afternoon game drives
Bush walks
Sundowner drinks
Wi-Fi
Boma
Bar
Deck
Dining Room
Lounge
Library
Outside Lounge
Pool
A pink dawn, birds stirring and a chance to see the wildlife begin their day – welcome to a morning drive at Thornybush. You’ll need to be up before the sun and in the vehicle after a quick snack to see the best sightings. This is when the land is cool and the animals are most active, when anything is possible and sightings come quickly. After a couple hours of roaming the reserve you’ll stop at a special spot for a coffee break before heading back for a delicious late breakfast. Following a lazy afternoon, most likely spent by the pool or on your deck, you will meet your ranger for afternoon tea before climbing into the game vehicle for a three-hour drive that leads into the evening. The sundowner stop at beautiful viewpoints will take in one of the iconic sights – a sunset casting golden light across an African savanna. As night sets in, new animals stir adding another level of excitement to the end of the drive.
Kids activities include tailored walks with rangers, who point out the insects and plants to them; as well as baking and bush art, where kids use natural elements like leaves and seeds in their creations, bringing them closer to nature through their senses and creating something memorable as a keepsake.
A walking safari offers something quite different to a game drive: the thrill of being on foot in a Big 5 reserve and a chance to engage with the smaller things. You learn about tracking, insects and flowers. It’s a chance to have an immersive experience where you get down and touch and smell what’s out there while at the same time you never quite know what you’ll encounter around the next corner, and there’s little that compares to the experience when you do.
One-hour long flight over the scenic, Lowveld section of the Blyde River. As the sun rises, the landscape, the vegetation and, if you're lucky, some wildlife will provide photo opportunities. Game spotting cannot be guaranteed but on most flights, guests can see plains game such as giraffe and wildebeest.
Thornybush runs a non-profit organisation that aims to uplift the surrounding local communities that many of the staff members come from. Exciting initiatives such as community owned agricultural businesses, food security, youth focused conservation awareness, sustainable procurement and infrastructure upgrades are all major focus area’s of ours.
27 km | 40 min drive to Thornybush Game Lodge
Private and stylishly decorated, the Luxury Suites are a joy to spend a night in and difficult to leave. The large windows above the bath and giant sliding doors to the deck offer incredible views of the riverbed and any animals that may be wallowing there. Each of the 18 Luxury Suites have an en-suite bathroom, indoor and outdoor shower and have been carefully designed and spaced to provide privacy. The elegant finishes and extremely comfortable beds complete the impressive rooms.
Each of the two Family Suites are larger than the Luxury Suites, with a lounge area and day beds to accommodate children. As with the Luxury Suites, they have an elegant design that offers the perfect oasis of calm and rest after a game drive. These suites have a large private deck with its own plunge pool.
Game Lodge was the first of its kind in the Thornybush Nature Reserve, opening its doors back in 1961. As the original establishment, it put Thornybush on the map and established our reputation for world-class game-viewing.
Now, with a note of sophistication in the design and layout, our thatched main area overlooks a waterhole and riverbed frequently visited by elephants, buffalo and other large game. The classic lower deck flows between the open dining area and a beautiful bar.
Sunbirds, attracted to the many aloes which surround the main deck, are just some of the many small delights you can expect on your stay at Thornybush Game Lodge.
The warm-hearted staff, riverbed setting and legacy of excellence are standout features. Meals, when taken at the lodge, are Ottolenghi-style buffets prepared by Solly, the legendary master bush chef! Bush dinners are a firm favorite with our guests, where you get to enjoy a hearty meal, surrounded by lanterns, candles and the sound of the African wilderness.
Thinking of booking
? Allow our specialists to book and arrange your stay directly with the hotel, with all of your requirements. Or why not allow us plan your whole holiday with the confidence of an award winning travel company.
A team of dedicated chefs ensure that every meal at Thornybush becomes a special occasion. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea-time treats, prepared by the team of chefs, are of unparalleled quality and incorporate flavours from around the globe complemented with an African flair.
Boma
Bar
Deck
Dining Room
Lounge
Library
Outside Lounge
Pool
Thornybush is a 14,000-hectare private nature reserve that shares a fenceless border with the famous Kruger National Park in South Africa. Big 5 encounters are the standout experiences for the guests, with visitors particularly impressed with the lion and leopard sightings. It’s the vast diversity of wildlife, however, that has seen Thornybush emerge as a leading safari destination. With passionate and expert guide-and-tracker teams leading the way, guests leave with a genuine understanding of the entire ecosystem and the enthralling cast of animals.
27 km | 40 min drive to Thornybush Game Lodge
A pink dawn, birds stirring and a chance to see the wildlife begin their day – welcome to a morning drive at Thornybush. You’ll need to be up before the sun and in the vehicle after a quick snack to see the best sightings. This is when the land is cool and the animals are most active, when anything is possible and sightings come quickly. After a couple hours of roaming the reserve you’ll stop at a special spot for a coffee break before heading back for a delicious late breakfast. Following a lazy afternoon, most likely spent by the pool or on your deck, you will meet your ranger for afternoon tea before climbing into the game vehicle for a three-hour drive that leads into the evening. The sundowner stop at beautiful viewpoints will take in one of the iconic sights – a sunset casting golden light across an African savanna. As night sets in, new animals stir adding another level of excitement to the end of the drive.
Kids activities include tailored walks with rangers, who point out the insects and plants to them; as well as baking and bush art, where kids use natural elements like leaves and seeds in their creations, bringing them closer to nature through their senses and creating something memorable as a keepsake.
A walking safari offers something quite different to a game drive: the thrill of being on foot in a Big 5 reserve and a chance to engage with the smaller things. You learn about tracking, insects and flowers. It’s a chance to have an immersive experience where you get down and touch and smell what’s out there while at the same time you never quite know what you’ll encounter around the next corner, and there’s little that compares to the experience when you do.
One-hour long flight over the scenic, Lowveld section of the Blyde River. As the sun rises, the landscape, the vegetation and, if you're lucky, some wildlife will provide photo opportunities. Game spotting cannot be guaranteed but on most flights, guests can see plains game such as giraffe and wildebeest.
Thornybush runs a non-profit organisation that aims to uplift the surrounding local communities that many of the staff members come from. Exciting initiatives such as community owned agricultural businesses, food security, youth focused conservation awareness, sustainable procurement and infrastructure upgrades are all major focus area’s of ours.
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